Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Healing after wide tumor removal on dogs' lower limbs by second
By Prpich, Cassandra Y et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2014·Southpaws Specialty Surgery for Animals, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Second intention healing after wide local excision of soft tissue sarcomas in the distal aspects of the limbs in dogs: 31 cases (2005-2012).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 31 dogs with soft tissue sarcomas on their legs underwent surgery to remove the tumors, followed by a healing process called second intention healing, where the wound heals naturally without stitches. Most of the dogs (93.5%) healed completely within about 53 days, although a few needed skin grafts to help with healing. There were some minor complications, but all were managed without serious issues, and only one dog had a recurrence of the tumor. Overall, the surgery was successful, and no dogs died from tumor-related causes.
People also search for: dog leg tumor surgery · soft tissue sarcoma in dogs · dog wound healing complications · second intention healing in dogs · dog skin graft recovery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine outcomes for dogs with soft tissue sarcomas in the distal aspects of the limbs that underwent second intention healing after wide excision (2-cm lateral surgical margins and a margin 1 fascial plane deep) of the tumors. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 31 dogs with soft tissue sarcomas in the distal aspects of the limbs that underwent second intention healing following wide local excision of their tumors. PROCEDURES: Tumors were excised with 2-cm lateral margins and a margin 1 fascial plane deep to tumors. Wounds healed by means of second intention. Time to healing, complications during healing, and information regarding tumor recurrence were recorded. RESULTS: All tumors were excised with histologically tumor-free margins. Twenty-nine (93.5%) wounds healed completely by second intention (median time, 53 days). Two (6.5%) dogs required free skin graft procedures to facilitate healing. Complications during open wound management developed for 7 (22.6%) dogs. Long-term complications were detected for 8 (25.8%) dogs, including intermittent epidermal disruption (5/31 [16.1%]) and wound contracture (3/31 [9.7%]). All complications were managed conservatively. Local tumor recurrence was detected for 1 (3.2%) dog. Median follow-up time was 980 days (range, 380 to 2,356 days). No patients died because of tumor-related causes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of this study indicated second intention healing of large wounds in the distal aspects of the limbs was complete and typically without complications for dogs that underwent wide excision of soft tissue sarcomas. Wide local excision of soft tissue sarcomas in the distal aspects of the limbs with 2-cm lateral margins and margins 1 fascial plane deep to the tumors provided excellent long-term local tumor control.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24378028/